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Three Weeks, Eight Seconds

Greg Lemond, Laurent Fignon, and the Epic Tour de France of 1989

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Three Weeks, Eight Seconds

By: Nige Tassell
Narrated by: Shaun Grindell
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The gripping story of the greatest race in cycling history, when Greg LeMond cinched victory by a mere eight seconds.

For a race as long as the mighty Tour (three weeks of testing the limits of human endurance), to have the ultimate victory decided by a margin of just eight seconds almost boggles the mind. But that's exactly what happened between American legend Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon. After more than 2,000 miles in the saddle, it remains the smallest margin of victory in the Tour's 100-plus-year history. 

But as dramatic as that Sunday afternoon on the streets of Paris was, the race wasn't just about that one time-trial. During the previous fortnight, the leader's yellow jersey had swapped back and forth between LeMond and Fignon in a titanic struggle for supremacy. At no point during the entire three weeks were the pair separated by more than 53 seconds, a razor-thin margin between ultimate triumph or agonizing torment. 

In Three Weeks, Eight Seconds, Nige Tassell brings one of cycling's most astonishing stories to life, examining that extraordinary race in all its multifaceted glory, complete with fresh first-hand testimony.

©2017 Nige Tassell (P)2019 Tantor Cycling Sports Sports History Triathlon
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This is a truly splendid biographical effort by Nige Tassell (of whom I had never heard) exploring the pain and the glory of the finest TDF to date. Initially I was disappointed with the nuanced and accented narration but I grew to appreciate and in the end to applaud Shaun Grindell’s interpetation. Chapeaux to both of you and to Greg and Laurent of course…

A masterclass in sports writing

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The author manages to inmerse the reader/listener in that fateful race, and relive all the excitement and heartbreak in equal measure.

Brilliant account of the best Tour de France ever

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I was fourteen in 1989 but can remember that final stage time trial like it was yesterday. This fantastic story of that years tour lives up to expectations, reminding me of events i’d forgotten and telling stories I didn’t know of the race. This story is not just exclusively for cyclists.....it’s a Hollywood blockbuster.
The presentation by the author was ok at best. His monotonous pattern was distracting at times but the story was big enough to eclipse him.

Still amazing 30 years later.

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I enjoyed the story of the book but the over-pronunciation of every word, with the whole book being narrated with the same mechanical pattern and tempo… it was frustrating. There was no character or interest in how the story was told.

Shame. Sorry Shaun.

Narration really poor

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an excellent account of a well known event. most people already know the story but the high level of analysis particularly regarding Delgado and the various managers made it a good listen.

surprisingly good

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